Hearty Potato Soup (Instant Pot/Vegan)

Another one I found on  the Instant Pot site. Forgot to take a photo.....

INGREDIENTS

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 t minced garlic - (used WAY more)
• 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
• 4 cup low sodium chicken broth
• 2 1/2 lbs potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1 inch cubes
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
• a dash of dried red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian Seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 T flax or chia seed (opt - adds nutrition)
• 2 C non dairy milk - or 12 ounce can of evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
• black pepper to taste

Garnish with cheese, green onions, "unparmesan cheese"

DIRECTIONS

1. Press Saute on Instant Pot. Add onion, garlic and olive oil. Stir while sauteing for 3-4 minutes. Do not walk away or this will burn.
2. Add chicken broth, vegetables and spices/seasonings. Stir. Place lid on pot, press soup button and set minutes to 10. (It takes about 10 to come to pressure and then cooks for 10 minutes.)
3. When beeps, do a quick pressure release.  Add 2 cups of chicken broth and milk. Insert an immersion blender and run on short bursts until a creamy consistency that you like, but make sure to leave chunks of potatoes. Add salt and pepper to taste, stirring gently to incorporate.
4. Makes 8 cups of creamy, comforting potato soup. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Steel Cut Oats (Instant Pot)

Tracy helped me adapt this recipe from the Instant Pot booklet. I make a pot and then portion the leftovers and use them throughout the week. Works well. 

can't get a good photo

INGREDIENTS
3 C water
1 C non-dairy milk
pinch of salt
1 C steel cut oats
1 T vanilla 
2 tsp cinnamon
2 T ground flax seed
1/4 C craisins or dried fruit
1-2 T of Agave Nectar or Honey

*The recipe says non dairy milk works better than dairy milk as dairy milk tends to scorch. You could skip all milk. 

DIRECTIONS
I dump it all in the pot. 

Put pot on manual and cook 3 minutes. 

When time is up, let the pressure come down and open the pot. 

Add extra fruit (banana, apple, blueberries, peaches) and pecans. Yummo 

Some add the seasonings after it cooks...I'm lazy and I'm the ONLY one in the house who eats Oats so I tend to go heavy on the cinnamon. LOL 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sweet Potato Chips (Vegan)

So simple it's really not a recipe...but yummy nonetheless. I found the basic directions in Happy Herbivore Light and Lean. 

INGREDIENTS
Sweet Potato - sliced thinly

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375*. 

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (or grease).

Slice Potato - I like to spray with olive oil spray and sprinkle with onion powder and garlic powder or minced garlic.

Place chips on pan and bake for 5 min.

Flip over and bake another 5 min.

Check and bake up to another 5 more minutes until the side are curly and lifting.

If your chips are stubborn try broiling for 30 seconds or so. Allow chips to cool; they crisp slightly as they cool.

Serves 2 - about 50 calories per serving.....but I also eat the whole thing.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

In a Minute God....

Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Mark 1:18, 20

"In a minute, Mom!" 

Via Google Images

Delayed obedience is disobedience. 

We teach our children to begin to obey immediately and respectfully appeal as needed, as they obey. Too simply ignore a call is disobedience. 

Mark likes the word immediately. He uses it ten times in this chapter - that I see. I note that things begin to HAPPEN when Jesus shows up.  The relationship between Jesus' call to Simon, Andrew, James and John and their reaction is what speaks loudest to me this morning. 

Jesus called. 

They left their nets IMMEDIATELY and FOLLOWED. 

When we hear Jesus calling the proper response is to IMMEDIATELY follow. Sometimes we need to respectfully clarify...but we clarify from a position of obedience. 

To be a disciple is to be a follower. In this context it is to follow a teacher. It meant to live, work and sleep with the teacher.  The word involves*:

• Abiding fellowship
• Clinging in trust and obedience
• Cleaving to Jesus means acting according to His example
• Fellowship of faith as well as life
• Inner moral and spiritual fellowship is essential to outward fellowship
• Self denial 

If I am struggling to follow a clear call of Jesus I need to evaluate my heart....I need  God to "search my heart" Psalm 139:23.  Personally, the times I struggle most with a call from Jesus involve a lack of trust or an unwillingness to deny my self and my plans. 

There are many things He has called me to - things He may call you too as well.....

• Relationship with Jesus
• Die to a habit
• Practice a spiritual discipline
• Rest
• Change a career
• Step into a new activity

My goal is to  FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY when Jesus calls...not tomorrow or "in a minute." 

*Strongs 190 - sources Strongs, Vines, Dr. Zodhiates Complete Dictionary of  NT Words 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Mission Minded

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Farther and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe  all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 25:19-20

Growing up as a missionary kid (mk) these verses were very familiar to me. Many have come to think of these as a "missionary commission" since "all nations" are mentioned.  I've been asked by others if I'm "mission minded." This confuses me.

These are the very last words Jesus spoke to his followers on earth. They matter.

This is a command - not a suggestion. It's for all of us - not a chosen few. Christ followers are all to be mission minded.

Jesus says to GO...as we go we are to make disciples. I note it doesn't say "make converts." Disciples are ones who  follow and enjoy abiding fellowship with Jesus. I think sometimes we put a lot of emphasis on making converts, but  fail to make disciples.

If we are to make disciples, it would follow, we have to BE disciples.

As we make disciples we are to keep on BAPTIZING them and keep on TEACHING them to observe ALL Jesus taught and commanded.

As we do all this - we are guaranteed Jesus will be with us, always. We can't claim the promise if we aren't obeying the command.

We do have a mission - to make disciples.

This makes me evaluate my relationship with Jesus. Am I following Him closely? Am I a disciple?  Are we making disciples of our children? Are they growing in their fellowship with Jesus or are they simply learning a list of dos and don'ts. What am I doing to help others become disciples? What am I doing well and what could I do better?  What about our church? Is it making disciples? Am I helping in this endeavor? Is there someone I need to talk to on church staff about our church's discipleship efforts?

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

MOB Dress Hunt Continues

If you've missed the fun on Facebook  - this is what I'm up to today. 

I tried on the dress loaned to me by a local friend and the one Bre and I purchased. PLEASE NOTE I WILL NOT WEAR BLACK TIGHTS! I didn't have nylons and so just grabbed a pair to try. Honestly, I wanted to try both on with all the garments to see how the general thing would look.....so I grabbed tights...and so many of you are worried I'll wear dark black tights with a pink dress. ::snort:: I don't know much about fashion but that I know. 

Dress 1 

A pretty dress which looked nice on Lisa. Unfortunately,  pale pink doesn't work for me! I threw on this belt only because it's the one I had and I planned to buy  another if I went with this dress.  I seriously cannot believe you all think I'd go to a wedding in a pink dress, brown belt, black tights and red shoes. ::snort:: 

I have tried on so many truly awful dresses this week I decided to be brave and try on the Stuffed Sausage dress.

 Dress 2

This is the dress purchased when BreAnne and I were shopping. I will not show you the red one that is out. WE have decided this is "deep berry" and therefore a shade of pink.  AGAIN I AM NOT PLANNING ON BLACK TIGHTS!  I was hoping the red shoe would work - but it won't.  And I don't really like the black ones I have on. I also have white dress shoes but don't think so either. So nude it is.....

The scarf from the Burka Michael so kindly brought me from Afghanistan - I was hoping it would work.  I like some sort of cover, but have been told not black.  I am guessing I'll go bare if I wear this dress,  as I've been all over looking for a jacket or scarf that would work. If I HAPPEN to see one that's cream or lighter pink I may pick it up. 

I realized I could wear this dress as Bre says it's a shade of pink and it's not as short as I remember. I don't usually wear form fitting - but then I have lost weight so I guess I can. I still lovingly refer to it as my sausage dress, but it fits. 

I posted these on Facebook to say I may wear  Dress 2 on Facebook - and that led to lots of helpful tips, encouraging advice and links to other dresses. 

I did NOT want to spend $250 or $125 for the dresses I had seen that would work...but low and behold. Barb sent me to Chadwicks and I found one and Renee had a link to one that comes in magenta...They were $45 and $60 - Much cheaper. I can take a chance. I ordered both. I sent them to Krsita's and am  hoping one of the three will work..... I ordered based on measurements online and have different sizes for all 3 dresses...and 3 different shades of pink....3 different styles... When I get to OR I'll try Dress 2, 3, and 4 on and we'll decide.... No one but ME will really care about the dress anyway - but it matters to the MOB. (BTW I like the acronym - MOB especially in connection with a dress). 

Dress 3 

 I actually like the one above - because everyone was suggesting more matronly dresses and I think this is matronly with spunk - which I can live with. It's looks more red here than pink - looked more pink on the website so we'll see what it looks like when it turns up.

Dress 4 

This is probably as pale as I can go...and even then I'm not sure. If I need pink and not "deep berry" or "magenta" - I'm set. 

Wow - my friends sure know fashion better than me. I will now look for taupe or tan hose and "nude heels" or "nude flats" - didn't even know they made such a thing - but I've been told they would go with either Dress 2, 3, or 4.

 Now I'll go finish Wedding Candies.

Michael will be so relieved not to discuss MOB dresses tonight. I think we'll have some sparkling cider in the backyard onsen to celebrate.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

They Chose Barabbas

Which of the two do you want me to release? and the said, "Barabbas!" Matthew 27:21

In the history of wrong choices this one is tops.  It takes my breath away.  They chose Barabbas over Jesus. 

Barabbas - a robber, murderer insurrectionist 

Jesus - savior, healer, messiah, suffering servant leader

Barabbas (Strongs 912) son of the father....no name at all really.  Son of someone.....no man...every man....

How? Why? I can't fathom it. 

In a moment of honesty, I realize, there are moments in my life when I choose Barabbas over Jesus. I choose the known, the common, the profane over Jesus.

It takes my breath away.

It breaks my heart.

I determine to choose Jesus - every day in a million ways.

I choose Jesus - more and more - every day.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...